Low pressure gauge of the diaphragm type



July 7, 1936. B. WILLACH LOW PRESSURE GAUGE OF THE DIAPHRAGM TYPE Filed March 25, 1950 I7 19 3 nventor Bernard/#Z/ecfi (fag Patented July 7, 1936 LOW PRESSURE GAUGE OF THE DIAPHRAGM TYPE Bernard Willach, SellersvilIe, Pa., assignor to United States Gauge Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 25, 1930, Serial No. 438,832

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to diaphragm gauges, particularly those of a the lowpressure type.

More specifically, this invention relates to low pressure gauges designed especially for indicating at a distance the variations in the-depth of a liquid, the total variations in depth of which may be relatively small, thus requiring a sensitive gauge in order to record the fluctuations accurately. In this respect my invention is related to that disclosed in a similar pending application, Serial Number 354,823, filed April 13, 1929. In said application there is shown a diaphragm and movement of great accuracy and sensitivity Without, however, any auxiliary means for permitting precise and convenient adjustment of the movement for selectively adapting it for use in connection with various liquids and liquids of various maximum depths, or for rendering it perfectly accurate when it is set up in a particular workingcombination. I r Accordingly, it is one of the principle objects of the present invention to provide a gauge movement which shall be adjustable to readily and conveniently adapt the gauge for accurate in-,- dication in any combination in which such gauges are designed for use.

Gauges constructed in accordance with the 7 present invention are specially adapted for use in connection with automobiles for indicating the depth of gasoline in the tank, the depth of water in the radiator, the depth of oil in the crankcase, .or height of electrolite in the storage battery, for example. It should be understood, however, that the gauge may be used in any similar situation. When gauges of. this character are employed on automobiles or the like for the purposes specified they are so located as to be under the observation of the driver. The'latter, his undivided attention being required for careful operation of the vehicle, can give the gauges but a fleeting glance and hence the visible 'or indicating portions of the gauges must be of such character that they readily discernible (ems-) essential instruments upon the dashboard, such instruments must be of extremely compact design. In accordance with the need and demand for improvements of the character. specifiedin the preceding paragraphs, further major objects of 5. the present invention are to provide a gauge which shall be relatively small in size and so compact in design as to require a minimum amount of mounting space, and to so design and arrange a gauge that its visible or indicating por- 10 tion shall provide unmistakable and readily discernible readings. In furtherance of these major objects other specific or subordinate objects may be enumerated, as follows; a It is an object of thisinvention to provide, in 15 a level-indicating device of the character described, a vertically movable horizontal pointer cooperating with a vertically disposed dial or the like to move between high and low points on said dial to indicate high and low liquid levels re- 20 spectively.

Another object is to provide a diaphragm gauge wherein the diaphragm is capable of exerting a thrust in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of a vertically swinging pointer. V A further'lobject is to so design a diaphragm gauge that the diaphragm axial thrust is in a line or plane substantially. parallel to an arcuate path in which'an indicating pointer is adapted to swing. v

Still another object lies in the provision of a diaphragn'rgauge having an indicator consisting of a swinging arm and an ofiset pointer, so assembledthatthe diaphragm thrust is in a direc tion normal to the plane of the swinging move- 35 ment of said arm.

With these objects in view, as well as others 'that will appear in the following detailed disclosure, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of same and in 40 which: 7 j v Figure 1 shows, in front elevation, a preferred form of the gauge of this invention mounted in a portionof an-automobile dashboard as it appears from the drivers seat. Figure 2 is-an enlarged side view, partly in section and .partly in elevation with the front closure plate removed and the device separated from the dashboard, showing the internal structural details as they appear when viewed substantially upon the plane'indicated byline 2-,2, Figure 3.

Figure.,3 constitutes a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 2, with the indicator swung to itsintermediate position for convenience venient observation of the driver of the vehicle. A front end closure plate or cap I is mounted flush" against the board surface, and'vhasea vertical rectangular opening 8 beneath which: itflsupe ports a transparent glass ,9. Behind the glass, and visible therethrough; "is :the fmecham'sm of the gauge proper, which mechanismibedee scribed later in connection with Figures'Z and 3,

Turning now to Figures 2and 3, there is shown a main body casting comprising an upright base or block l having integrally formed therewith andr-nonmal-Jthereto a thin, flat, substantially rectangularplate i 1., This plate is designed to support the diaphragm: structure and the-movement ofthe-gaugei Plate l 1 also forms part pofthe-diaphragnr structura being shaped on aits interior surface-to cooperate with adiaphragm I 2 "-to form a dish shaped expansiblechamber l3.- The diaphragm=,=preferably-a-sheet o'f-fine silk treated with :varnish", has its edges pressed against the plate e-l l insealing engagement therewith byan annular washer fill and a substantially rectangular plate l-4,- the latter-being stampedto provide a dish-shaped surfaced "5 in" opposingrelationship with that of plate ll.

I The block- I 0 is provided with a nipple i6 which is adapted for-connection with a line (not shown) containing air or fluid under a pressure proportionate-tothe'amount "or depth of liquid in a contamer,- suchas the-gasoline tank; for "example. A passage 1! is drilled "fromthe interior of this nipple, through block I0 and plate H; and it connects-with a-second drilled passage l-8 through which communicationisestablished with-the-diaphragm chamber'l3. Aquan'tity of material 49, such as felt,'is disposed with'm 'tlfe nipple to prevent any" harmful -elfects upon- "the "gauge that might" otherwise ,"resultfrom sudden or abnormal fluctuations of 1 pressure 'in "the connectingline. A' piug 2-i "is-screwedinto the bore of the nippleto compress the felt, this plug having a through passageway '22 so "as not to'entirely disrupt 'communication between the pressureline-and-the 'dia= phragm chamben downwardly under the influenceof -gravityand of a secondssprin'g laterutosbedescribedr In this manner the pointer is steadied and the instrumentarendered sensitive' to ver-ywsmall pressure changesl."

A 1 "stamped movement-supporting: framework 26 is disposed within the .ang-le between the, block I10 and the :plate r I Li This. sfnamework cincluldes 'assubstantially lfiatand rectangular plate 21 parallelto plate-J] 1 mid .havin'gfits =f our icornersibent 7 je'c't, andfreciprocate as the diaphragm flexes in toward the plate H, as indicated by the full and broken lines 28 in Figure 2. In this manner the corners provide tabs 29 which are oifset into a plane parallel to that of plate 21, and which thereby engage the four corresponding corners of the 5 plate M to space the plate 2! from plate ll sufficiently to allow for the dished formation of plate I4. .Machine'screws 31 pass through the-tabs 29, plate I ifwasher diaphragm "l 2 andthence into 7 the cast plate H to firmly secure all of these 10 enumerated elements in assembled relationship.

The plate-vlv l which provides a stop for disc 23 :and prevents rupture of the diaphragm when abnormal pressures are applied thereto, has a central. hole"32 "through which the lug 2 3 may proresponse to varying pressures in chamber l3.

.Iiikewise, iii-frame plate 21, anopening 33 is provided -for the lug 2 as Well as for structural convenience. The opening 33 is relatively large and, 20 imrorming the sameg'a pair=of "elongated horizontai bearingaelements 34 and 35 are formed from plate 2! by certain cutting and bending opera-V 'tions.= These elements are in parallelism and prov-"ide -beaning s forthe ends .of a vertical spindle 25 tally against t he'leg- 42 tocause the rocker arm 5 to oscfilate in .a'-counter-c1ockwise direction (in Figure which-'oscillation'in turnpulls the link ee toward the left.

The -33 comprises a horizontal fiat porlion- 43 and a-vertical flat portion 4-4, twisted with respect to portion 43. The-end of the vertical por' tion is'freeI-y f-pivoted; as at 45; within "the cl'evis-s'h'aped end 46 --of a-=crank 47 that has its opposite end secured'to aspindlefl-S for oscillation therewith:- "spindle l fi is horizontally-disposed wlth one endTotatably"borne 'b y'the plate 2"! and its opposite end rotatably'supported 'by'abearing 'e'lement49i Element 49 forms "an integral part of the framework 26 having'beeni formed by cut ting ppenings 5i in 'the plate i2l and thereafter bending astrip 52hr material laterallyinto a right angle'nonnalto 'saidplate; An'indicatorarm 53 is seeured'tothespindle "48'and adapted to swing vertically in-responsetoosoillationof said spin'dlelr V wire spring 5 "has one end. thereof "secured to theplate 21"by a screw 55in 'such' manner that its'pppos'rte end resiliently-engages the left side of rockenarm 37 ."and "tends to 'rock it" toward the 'rightiin clockwise direction in opposition to 69 the diaphragm pressure. This spring is sufiicientlyflntrong Atojcaus'e the diaphragm .and the fgau'ge movementto vmove .toward ,zero position upon. .decrease of ,.pressurerin diaphragm cham- 'ber"l'3. It will thus'be seen that increase of 5.

pressure causes the diaphragm. lugs 24, through the abovedescribed mechanism, to raise the free-end oftheindicator arm, and that. the said arm aided= by spring; 754, swings downwardly-as theqpressures' fall. Thecengagement of theswire 70 spring=54-withnthe arm ,3! is. by way ofrone of a pluralityiofenotches :56 zjcut. intthearm=. Anynne of:dzhese:notches-imayrbeoselected latccwillinuorder towar yatheaefiectii'ze arm; length betweentthe =wire thennisoerrs indleesi Thisadjustment of :any one of a plurality of liquid levels.

lcourse varies. the 'efiective'resistancethat the spring sets, up against the diaphragm pressures, with the result that the particular instrument may readily be adapted for the measurement of In additionithe indicating mechanism (about to befide; scribed) may be 'accurately'adjusted to maintain reliable. readings in the particular set-up 'in which the gauge is alreadyiincorporated.

At its front (left) end the frame plate 21 has Y an integral extension 51 which carries at right 'angleslthereto an upright segmental strip 58 of substantially cylindrical curvature. .One edge of this strip is partially'cut away as at'59 to permit theindicator arm 53' to extend therethrough and swing up and down. The indicator arm terminates in a. pointer 6I,'bent;at right angles :thereto andadapteduto swing vertically, always in horizontal position, past the strip 58 in spaced relation from said strip. Between the pointer and the strip a dial or indicating assembly is mounted for cooperation with the pointer, as

follows:

' VA rectangular strip 62, of flexible material is centrallyand-longitudinally slotted. as at 63 to receive and provide a frame for an elongated protuberance 64 formed on a cylindrically curved segment 65. (See also Figure 1.) This assembly is fitted against the outer surface of the frame segment 58, the ends of which are providedwith slots 66 through which locking tabs 61 carried by strip 62 are projected and bent to hold the dial assembly in position. The elongated-vertical protuberance 64 preferably is a pointer is always horizontal and is itself high when the liquid level is high and low when the liquid level is low, and since the dial assembly is narrow and vertical, the optical effect upon an observer is substantially the same as is obtained when looking at a liquid gauge glass or directly at a cross section of the fluid in the tank to which the gauge is connected. Hence the vehicle driver may, with a safe and fleeting glance and a minimum of mental effort, secure a reliable and unmistakable indication of a particular liquid level.

The angle, between the casting block I 0 and its integral plate II, is closed by a quickly detachable casing member 68 that is adapted to telescopingly slide over the front (left) end of the device until it abuts the irregularly shaped casting block l0. It comprises a flat cover 69 having side walls 1| extending normal to, and in the same direction from, its side edges, the side walls H in turn having their free edges bent to form slips 12 that hook behind the cast plate I l. A recess 13 is provided in the side of block l0, and the end of cover 69 is slotted as at 14 to form a snap-latch 15. This latch is bent inwardly so that, as the casing is telescoped into place, it snaps into the recess and engages a wall of the latter to yieldably retain the casing in locked position. As hitherto stated, the gauge is inserted through the dashboard, as in Figure 1, with the closure cap 1 cooperating with the easing to complete the assembly and lend to it a finished and attractive appearance.

or essential characteristics thereof.

The described apparatus may be made in various sizes, but remains of neat appearance and extremely compact design. For the low pressure work discussed above, it has been manufactured in vest-pocket size of substantially the same size and shape, .when completely assembled, as a package of cigarettes.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of .the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim and desire to secureby'United States Letters Patent is: .l

1. In a liquid level indicating instrument, a horizontal colored indicating element mounted for substantially vertical up and down move- .ment; a narrow elongated dial vertically disposed behind said horizontal indicating element;

and mechanism for actuating said element to move it up and down over said dial; said dial comprising an elongated'strip solidly colored to contrast with said indicating element and to simulate the appearance of a column of liquid.

2. In the indicating instrument defined in .claim 1, said actuating mechanism being disposed behind, and substantially wholly between thevertical planes bounding the sides of,said narrow vertical dial and said colored strip being of convex protuberant shape.

3. In an indicating instrument, a framework; a narrow elongated dial assembly supported by said framework; an indicator mounted within said framework and provided with a pointer,

movable from one narrow end to said dial as- 40 sembly toward the other and always disposed in a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said elongated dial assembly; and mechanism mounted within said framework for actuating said indicator; said dial 45 assembly including a narrow segment having an elongated slot therein, and an elongated strip comprising a colored protuberance fitted within said slot behind said pointer for cooperation with the latter to render unmistakable indications of the positions of said actuating mechamsm.

4. A compactly designed diaphragm gauge, comprising a thin and substantially flat diaphragm structure, including a pressure-responsive diaphragm arranged to exert a thrust in a direction normal to said thin fiat structure; mechanism mounted upon said structure and operatively associated with said diaphragm for actuation thereby; a dial face assembled adjacent said mechanism at one edge of said thin fiat structure; and an indicator connected to said mechanism for actuation thereby and for cooperation with said dial face to register pressure variations; said indicator comprising an arm pivoted on an axis that is substantially parallel to the direction of diaphragm thrust, and a pointer offset from said arm into proximity with said dial face.

5. In the diaphragm gauge defined in claim 4, said dial face being upright and confined to the width of said one edge of the flat structure, and said indicator being pivoted on a horizontal axis for vertical swinging movement.

6. A compactly designed diaphragm gauge, 75

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,046,539. July 7, 1936.

BERNARD WILLACH.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 40, claim 5, for "to" read of; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of September, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

